Musings of a City Mom

How to get 3 meals out of a Roasted Chicken!

2009-02-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

How are you stretching your food $$$ Only healthy meal ideas please. We are a family of 2 so obviously food goes further for us. My DS is 6 yrs old. This week I figured out a way to use a Rottisiere chicken 3 ways!

I bought a cooked chicken from Whole Foods on Chicken day for $5.99 (meaning it is on sale). That evening we ate chicken, rice and butternut squash(substitute any veggie here). Make a large portion of rice to use for other meals. For larger families you could buy 2 chickens. Or do one and skip the tacos and go right to soup.

The next night I made chicken tacos. Pulled the meat shredded it with 2 forks, put corn tortillas in the microwave (layered inside the corn tortilla) with mozzarella cheese, green salsa, shredded chicken,black beans warmed up, then out of microwvae and topped with Lettuce and Cilantro. It does not take long to warm up in microwave. My son also had a cut up apple. Not Mexican I know but added fiber. He liked it. I also used remaining rice. I put in a microwave safe bowl, added cummin, peas, some chopped tomatoes, a bit of red salsa, stir all together, add about a teaspoon of water cooked for 3-4 mins with lid on. Easy Spanish rice. You obvious can make variations on the chicken tacos to suit your tasted and what you have in the fridge or put the black beans (or any bean on the side)for added protien and fiber.

3rd day. I boiled the remaining chicken for soup. We have not eaten this yet but we will. I have left over rice to put in soup! I keep them separate until I serve. In soup I have celery, carrots, chicken. I did throw in some additional chicken that I boiled and chopped up. I boiled 3 chicken breast in broth. I will put 1 1/2 chopped up back into soup and 2 remaining ones I will chop up and make chicken salad for my son’s lunch this week. When I make the broth I throw in almost every veggie I have left over in my fridge from the week for the vitamins. This week I put in carrots, celery, zucchini, and mushrooms. After I am done cooking broth I strain out the veggie mix and add new veggies (carrots and celery only) boil again in broth for the soup. My son has no idea I snuck all those good veggies in.

If you do not want to eat the soup right away after straining the broth the first time put in a container or freezer zip lock and freeze for later use! I always keep a batch of frozen broth in the fridge just in case we get a cold. I also put dill in my chicken soup. My old Jewish neighbor told me that was her tip to awesome chicken soup and it is!

Each of these meals takes minimal time for preparation! Super easy and super healthy! And it really stretches your food dollar!

Painting my Kitchen from Yellow to Green "YIKES"

2008-08-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

With summer winding down I have been busy with some home improvement projects. When I bought my home I painted most of the rooms a shade of yellow because I wanted a "happy and welcoming" environment. Well, over the years that happy yellow has become a "dirty" yellow. Yellow and children are not compatible. No matter how much I wiped finger prints off it still looked dirty! I wanted to paint a nice warm color. So meet green......

I know it scared me at first too but then I decided to go for it. Painting my kitchen 2 shades of green. I promise it gets better as it dries. At least I went to bed that night praying that it would. I am also painting the trim. It needs a 2nd coat. That is still not finished as of today but I am working on it!

Ta Da! Glorious Green!

Pardon the finger prints on my stainless steel and the pot in my sink. As you can see I did not clean up for you and this is really how we live.

This is the wear the 2 walls meet. The underside is a soffet and not a 3rd color. It just looks darker. The kighter color is under the cabinets. Darker is on all the other walls but one.

Sadly, I still need hardware for my cabinets. So many choices! It is hard to decide. I am open to suggestions! And here is the reason why I need to paint my kitchen a darker color! Look at the food on his face and I believe there is some sauce already on the wall too.

If you like the colors they are Benjamin Moore: Old Salem gray (the darker color) and Richmond Gray. OPPPS! This is not GREEN but Gray...... oh I feel much better now.

More things to share

2008-08-10T23:23:00.000-07:00

Since I am in the sharing mode and since my SITStas where so kind to stop by. I am still so shocked (an honored) to find I was featured as "New Saucy Blog". I feel that I must share one more thing with you. While breezing through (clicking every link and picture) on my X Hollywood honey's profile on myspace I found something I simply must share. If you like John Mayer you MUST check this guy out. His name is Mike Vitale. Never met the guy before in my life but yet as of today I LOVE him. We chatted via myspace and now I must adopt him like a puppy I just found on the street. Just click and listen. Trust me on this one............ Visit his my space and tell him Ms. j sent ya! If you can not relate to his music then you have not lived. This man has a way with words I tell ya!

Life's a B*tch. Then you invent one.

2008-08-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

Okay ..... so.... I have a my space page. I will also admit to my facebook page while I am at it. The other day I was clicking on my friends to see who they were friends with. So I will admit, I was checking out some of my hot exboyfriends from years gone by. Since we are still friends in the internet kind of way and on my space. I feel I can look at their friends right? or does that make me an internet stalker?

At any rate one of my old flames is now in Hollywood - actually 2, but we are not really friends with the other one - he has not accepted my friend request yet. So I broke his heart but that is another story! ..... Getting back to flame #1 ( Mr. Hotty) one of his friends (IRL) is this gal from All My Children (the soap). So of course I must peek at her friends too. When looking around her page I discover her blog. She has a new internet web series that is hilarious and that I think all women can relate to. Each episode is about 6 minutes so it is easy to watch or get up to speed if you have not watched any of them yet. While my power was out and I was rationing my laptop battery I would boot up to watch an episode. The 6 minutes lost on my battery charge was well worth it! Thank goodness for wireless laptops!

The little Tornado that would!

2008-08-10T07:23:00.001-07:00

You know how they say Tornado's do not come near big cities? Well, being that I have been without power for several days, because SOMETHING ripped the power lines out in my neighborhood .... I am ready to testify that they indeed do! Last Tuesday a huge storm hit the city of Chicago. You know CHICAGO - with skyscrapers. Home of the new Donald Trump ginormous building? Home of the Cubs (Go Cubs!) and Ms. Oprah.

Here we were Tuesday evening - finger painting in the kitchen, rocking out to the music on the radio and the tornado sirens go off. I immediately thought "wow, that is a loud fire truck". After my total blond moment had passed, I came to realization that the incredible gust of winds and thunderous rain storm had something to do with that siren. Oh and of course the radio DJ helped out a little bit too as he said "get into the basement stupid" over the airwaves. Announcing to all that a funnel was circling at that very moment but a 2 miles west of my home. Later this funnel would rip through an area about a mile South of me.

As my son and I hid under the stairs in the basement seeking protection. I was rethinking about WHY exactly I bought my charming 94 yr old Queen Anne Farm house as she rattled and groaned in the wind. I felt like one of the 3 little pigs. Specifically, the one who built the house made out of straw and I could not help but think - oh how I wish you were brick! With that in mind, I am not so sure that story really is about a big bad wolf ! The lesson in that book REALLY is all about tornado safety!

Well here it is several days later and I have been thinking about this tornado that would dare come to the city. This is the 2nd one in a year! The last one was in August 0f 2007. This one also caused significant damage to my neighborhood. I have been thinking about why? WHY are they coming to my little street and I think I know the answer! There can only be one reason. They are simply confused and their arrival corresponds with my neighbor residing her house. It is her fault she has confused the tornado Gods with her Barn like house. They (the Tornado Gods) must think this is farm country and not the city after all. I am willing to bet she put a humgo weather vain on top of her house (guiding them here) to complete the themeing (sp) and I just cannot see it from the ground.

Here is the before picture - it is an improvement. Sorry, I only have a picture of half of the house before. But then again, is it really necessary to see all of a house that color?

Think you have a broken dishwasher think agian!

2008-07-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

I have been having an on going battle with my dishwasher and film on my silverware. I have been yearning for silverware that sparkles. A knife that I could hold up to may face and put lipstick on with. I have tried every brand dishwasher soap known to man kind, every rinse agent including vinegar. I have argued with my GE repair man that my dishwasher is not up to par ..... demanding a new one. It is less than a year old for crying out loud! It is even one of those grinding type dishwashers that claim you do not have to rinse first and breaking all the environmental rules I rinse! Being really into the environment and global warming you know how this must weigh heavily upon my conscious! I am a water waster!

In my household emptying the dishwasher is a team effort. I am a single mom, so by default my son has to help out with all the chores. When the dishwasher is full my son does the silverware and plastics, I do the glass and sharp knives. We also get a little quality time in chatting as we empty. Strangely, I do not seem to have a problem with glassware.

Today, I made a discovery about my dishwasher in less than 1 minutes time. To think I spent months pondering this question. This moment will change our relationship forever (my dishwasher and I that is. And perhaps the Repair man too). My son basically let me know all of my efforts for clean silverware were just the rantings of a crazy woman and wasted time. Well, okay maybe 1/2 wasted efforts and time. My son who just finished kindergarten this year is really into the environment. He is also Mr. Smarty pants - the kid started reading at 2. We recycle and we even have 2 composters. A worm composter in our basement (yeah - I know you want to see pictures - that is another day another blog okay?) and one in our yard.

This is how our conversation went:

Me: Do not throw those yogurt cups in the garbage! What are you suppose to do with them?

Mr. Smarty Pants: I know, I know - reduce, reuse, recycle.

Good boy, I think. Patting myself on the back for teaching him about recycling. Also, giving his teacher some credit after all they did cover this in school too. He walks over to the sink rinses out his yogurt cup and puts it in the recycle bin. Then he walks over and puts his spoon in the silverware drawer.

Me: What are you doing? (as he shuts the drawer)

Mr. Smarty Pants: ReUsing mom. Reeeemember - 3R's, mom 3R's

My silverware looks dirty because it is! EWWWWW! Do you think I should I send the repair man cookies with a short letter of apology?

Cool Discovery!

2008-07-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

I just discovered Wordle. This picture was created by submitting my URL from my blog to Wordle. Wordle then took all the words from my blog to create this picture! Pretty slick eh? (Click image to see it large) Now to many this may be old news to many, however to me and my "bestest friend" (who lives in farm town Indiana) ......... this is just plain EXCITING! Since she is my BFF and she is probably the only person who is reading my blog (because she is required to and I quiz her on content daily!) - I am sure she will be just thrilled AND playing with it all night!

Alicia did you make all your friends in Indiana subscribe to my blog yet? What are you waiting for!*%$#)!@^*?

http://wordle.net/

Invited to a summer gathering last minute?

2008-07-26T13:16:00.001-07:00

Today my dear son and I were invited to a friend's block party. "Bring a dish or a drink to share!" she says. Being invited at the last minute what is a girl to do? ... or eh... bring? With no time to run to the store I look in the fridge and make a mental tally of what is in there.

But of course .... what is a girl to do but make Sangria! Who doesn't have an some fruit rolling around in their frig and a bottle of red wine in the house? This is the perfect thing to bring to a block party or picnic! While it is always better to let it sit overnight and "meld" (is that a word?), you can also throw it together at the last minute letting it sit an hour or so. The secret to quick Sangria is to squeeze the fruit to help it along in the process. Below is my yummy Sangria recipe.

Citrus Sangria
Makes 6 glasses

Ingredients:
3 1/4 cups (26 fl. oz) dry red wine ( I will make this easy for you = 1 bottle)
1/2 cup (4 fl. oz) Cointreau (or triple sec taste great too and cost less)
1/2 cup (4 fl. oz) brandy
1/2 cup of sugar
Orangina sparkling orange juice to taste ( for sweeter/fruiter sangria add 1 cup of OJ and club soda instead)
1 med to large orange, sliced thin crosswise
1 lemon, sliced thin crosswise
1 lime, sliced thin crosswise
1 green apple cubed

Preparation:
Mix the wine, liquor, fruit and sugar in a large pitcher. Refrigerate overnight. If you are short on time and only have an hour so to let it marinate slightly squeeze the slices as you add them to the pitcher. Immediately, before serving, add in the Orangina. Serve over Ice. The colder the better! Be sure to add the fruit to each glass as you serve it.

The thing about Sangria is there is no real rule. You can change things up as you like. Some people like to add white rum, spiced rum or even gin - omitting the brand & Cointreau for a less sweet Sangria. You can also use plain club soda if you like it really dry. You can add strawberries, grapes, peaches OR any type of berries. Be creative! I would love to hear about your favorite Sangria recipe if you have one! It always has a "wow" factor when served in a glass pitcher. If you do not have one just mix it up in a plastic pitcher or old juice jar. Then serve it in a wine glass! The presentation in the wine glass is enough to impress!

**UPDATE** back from the block party - another mom invited on short notice made Mojitos - danggggggg why didn't I think of that!????? How easy can you get rum, mint, sugar and ice!

Trash to Treasure

2008-07-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

You know that old saying someone else's trash is your treasure? Well being the regular garbage picker that I am, I often drag home someone else's trash to my home. ReCycle, ReInvent and ReUse are the 3 R's that I live by. Tuesday is garbage day in my neighborhood. This is what I found last Tuesday.

Where do you think I should put these benches? How should I use them?

Perhaps put one here......... repaint it, put a cushion on it?

Yes, the house behind me REALLY is BARN RED, and yes I know my deck needs a touch up. I am working on that. First I need to finish painting my NEW pergola above the deck (pictures are coming soon of the Pergola and the Barn I live next to in the City). If you have any ideas about what I should do with these great finds please let me know by leaving your comments below! TIA!

Great Finds

2008-07-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

End of summer is bargain hunting time. Spring is golf season and duck hunting for men, well SUMMER is the sporting season for all thrifty moms. With garage sales happening every weekend and clearance racks at stores what is a mom to do! I think this balances things out for men and women. Men - sports, hunting (whatever :::rolling eyes:::) and woman finding a great buy!

At target the other day I stumbled upon a new seating area to go under my new pergola (pictures to come soon). Can you believe these prices! $12.48 each! $9.99 for the table! I can't afford to not buy them at those prices! Original price per chair was $49.99! Now hurry and run to a Target near you. Maybe you can pick some up too!

Many first this year

2008-07-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

White Wisteria

Pink Peony Blossom

Just because we live in the city does not mean we have to have city living. This year is a year of first for many plants in my city garden. AND this is my FIRST entry to my blog so it is only suiting that this be about FIRSTS! So here goes and bear with me as I learn about blogging!

My yard could very easily be described as English garden or cottage style. I also make it up as I go along, some times things just happen. I call those happy mistakes. I am best described as a lazy perfectionist, so if the garden mistake is good and it works I am keeping it. I plant close together trying to use every inch of usable space I can. Yard space after all is a "premium" in the city.

Years ago, I planted peonies, wisteria, a trumpet vine and every year I do an assortment of veggies. This year I had my first peony flowers, my first wisteria flower ( I was graced with one single blossom!).

And to round things out I am throwing in a picture of my first tomatoes of the season! Notice the Zinnia planted in the same pot as the tomatoes. The reason I plant them in the same pot is because Zinnia's attract bees and bees are pollinators. The more pollination your tomato plants have the more tomatoes it will produce. This potted tomato on my deck has 22 tomatoes on it right now! I know you can not see them all but believe me they are there. I am not quite sure why some of my leaves are yellowing. Tomato stress? If you are a tomatoe expert please share your thoughts and tomato growing tips by leaving a comment!

I am still waiting on my first bloom from my trumpet vine. Maybe next year......

Thanks for Reading!